4 players Broncos must find way to keep on 2026 roster

The Denver Broncos will open training camp in less than two months and evaluation will begin on what is one of the league's deepest rosters. 

The Broncos have their sights squarely set on getting to SoFi Stadium and Super Bowl LXI, but that won't come easily. The team has a difficult schedule to navigate and after winning the AFC West last season, they will go from one of the hunters to the hunted. 

In order to reach that destination, the Broncos are going to work on assembling the best roster of 53 players that they can before the end of the preseason. Of course, every team in the league has to work with more than 53 players each season due to injuries or players just not performing up to expectations, so putting together a good practice squad is a key element of team building.

Many of the spots on this year's roster are already going to be set when preseason games start, but the Broncos have a handful of players that need to be part of the team, one way or another. However, before forming the final 53-man roster, any player who is cut is subject to a 24-hour waiver wire period. The Broncos will need to hope that none of these players are claimed, should they be cut, so that they can be added back to the practice squad. 

With those thoughts in mind, the Broncos need to do everything they can to keep these four players on the 2026 team. 

Tyler Miller, OL

The Broncos have put together one of the most consistent offensive lines in the league and their starting five for this season, at least for the most part, is already decided. But a forward-thinking front office is a good front office. 

Ben Powers and Matt Peart are in contract years and Peart will have a difficult time making this year's roster. After extending Alex Palczewski this offseason and using a fourth-round pick on Boise State's Kage Casey, the Broncos have the future in mind. 

But rotational offensive linemen are a must in today's league and Tyler Miller, undrafted out of Iowa State, has a chance to be really good. 

Dallen Bentley, TE

With the second-to-last pick in this year's draft, the Broncos found a player many expected to be off the board by that point. Dallen Bentley, a tight end out of Utah, is a versatile player who offers a bright future at the position. 

With Evan Engram, Nate Adkins and Lucas Krull all entering contract years, the Broncos could use some reinforcements. 

Brent Austin, DB

The Broncos are looking at having both Riley Moss and Ja'Quan McMillian hit free agency following the season, and it may be difficult to keep them both. Forming a contigency plan at the cornerback position should be a focal point as this season goes along and Brent Austin, an undrafted player out of California, is an intriguing option. 

Multiple teams were looking to sign Austin following the draft, but he landed in Denver. He will be one of the more interesting players to follow this summer. 

Kolbe Katsis, WR

A good-sized wide receiver out of Northern Arizona, Kolbe Katsis was signed by the Broncos as an undrafted free agent. However, his impact to the team, at least initially, may be made on special teams as a return man. If he can excel in that role, he could be an outside-the-box option to replace Marvin Mims Jr., who will be an unrestricted free agent following the season. 

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